Mariko Yoshida (吉田 真理子, Yoshida Mariko) (born 27 July 1954) is a Japanese volleyball player and Olympic champion.…Mariko Yoshida (吉田 真理子, Yoshida Mariko) (born 27 July 1954) is a Japanese volleyball player and Olympic champion. Yoshida was a member of the Japanese winning team at the 1976 Olympic Games.
Hideo Hosono (細野秀雄, Hosono Hideo; born September 7, 1953) is a Japanese material scientist most known for the discovery…Hideo Hosono (細野秀雄, Hosono Hideo; born September 7, 1953) is a Japanese material scientist most known for the discovery of iron-based superconductors. Hosono, Hideki Shirakawa and Yoshinori Ohsumi are the three keynote speakers at the Institute of Integrated Research (IIR) founding lecture at the Institute of Science Tokyo.
Takashi Mitsubayashi (三ッ林 隆志, Mitsubayashi Takashi; 5 July 1953 – 2 August 2010) was a Japanese politician of the…Takashi Mitsubayashi (三ッ林 隆志, Mitsubayashi Takashi; 5 July 1953 – 2 August 2010) was a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Satte, Saitama and graduate of Saitama Medical School, he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 2000.
Masakazu Sekiguchi (関口 昌一, Sekiguchi Masakazu; born June 4, 1953) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic…Masakazu Sekiguchi (関口 昌一, Sekiguchi Masakazu; born June 4, 1953) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party who has served as the President of the Senate since 2024. Born in Saitama Prefecture, Sekiguchi was a dentist and a member of the Saitama Prefectural Assembly before his first election to the Senate in 2003. He served as parliamentary vice minister for Foreign Affairs, senior vice minister for Internal Affairs and Communications and chairman of the LDP caucus in the Senate, before he was elected Senate President in 2024.
Kuniaki Haishima (蓜島邦明) is a Japanese musician and composer. He is known for his music in several anime and tokusatsu…Kuniaki Haishima (蓜島邦明) is a Japanese musician and composer. He is known for his music in several anime and tokusatsu shows, as well as video games, films and dorama. His compositions for the Fuji TV series Tales of the Unusual are his most famous work, though he also composed the soundtrack for Metroid: Other M for the Wii, for which he is known abroad.
Naoto Satō (佐藤 直人, Satō Naoto; born 1953) is a Japanese amateur astronomer, discoverer of minor planets, and, by…Naoto Satō (佐藤 直人, Satō Naoto; born 1953) is a Japanese amateur astronomer, discoverer of minor planets, and, by profession, a junior high school science teacher. As a planetarian, a member of the professional staff of a planetarium, he has done much for the spread of astronomy in Japan through speaking on planetaria and the results of astronomical observation. In 2001, while working as support staff at JK1ZAM, the club station of Iruma Children’s Center (an educational institution for children in Iruma City), he helped achieve the first ARISS school contact in Japan. Also, in 2003, as a coordinating teacher, he helped accomplish the first solo contact between a junior high school in Japan and the ISS, with the support of JK1ZAM. He regularly spoke on the astronomical talk program Sunset Café at the local radio station "FM CHAPPY 77.7" from December 2006 to November 2008. He held the position of vice-director on the board of the Saitama Planetarium Liaison Council (2007–2008). He supports ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station), which is a program that offers students an opportunity to experience the excitement of amateur radio by talking directly with crew members of the ISS (International Space Station). The Eos main-belt asteroid 6025 Naotosato, which Takeshi Urata discovered in 1992, was named after him.
Yukihide Takekawa (タケカワ ユキヒデ(武川 行秀, Takekawa Yukihide; born October 22, 1952) is a Japanese singer, songwriter and…Yukihide Takekawa (タケカワ ユキヒデ(武川 行秀, Takekawa Yukihide; born October 22, 1952) is a Japanese singer, songwriter and composer from Urawa-ku, Saitama, Saitama Prefecture. He is best known for being the vocalist to the band Godiego as well as his solo career and his work as an author. Some of his compositions have been featured in video game, anime, films, and television drama soundtracks. These include the Galaxy Express 999 film, Saiyūki, Genesis Climber MOSPEADA, Soul Blazer, and Choushinsei Flashman. One of his most popular songs was "Gandhara", which was translated into foreign languages many times and changed more than once during the translation. The Japanese version of Return to Oz has "Keep On Dreamin'", performed by Godiego's Yukihide Takekawa, which was later re-recorded for one of his albums. His daughter Ai is also a musician and has been featured on the soundtrack of InuYasha Kanketsu-Hen.
Ryuji Koizumi (大塚 拓, Koizumi Ryūji; born 17 September 1952) is a Japanese politician. He has been a member of the House…Ryuji Koizumi (大塚 拓, Koizumi Ryūji; born 17 September 1952) is a Japanese politician. He has been a member of the House of Representatives of Japan from 2000 to 2005 and again from 2009. He served as the Minister of Justice from September 2023 to October 2024.
Makoto Hirayama (平山 誠, Hirayama Makoto; 12 May 1952 – 27 February 2018) is a Japanese politician. He served in the…Makoto Hirayama (平山 誠, Hirayama Makoto; 12 May 1952 – 27 February 2018) is a Japanese politician. He served in the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature) from 2009 until 2013.
Mari Amachi (天地 真理, Amachi Mari; born November 5, 1951) is a Japanese female singer and actress, who was famous in…Mari Amachi (天地 真理, Amachi Mari; born November 5, 1951) is a Japanese female singer and actress, who was famous in 1970s' Japan. On October 1, 1971, she debuted with the single "Mizuiro no Koi." She was born as Mari Saito in Omiya, Saitama Prefecture. She got five Oricon No.1 songs, a record as a female singer which was later broken by Seiko Matsuda. She started the era of Japanese idols in the 1970s and 1980s. Mari Amachi was the top female vocalist of Sony Music Entertainment in Japan.
Kiwao Nomura (野村 喜和夫, Nomura Kiwao; born 20 October 1951 in Saitama Prefecture) is a Japanese poet, writer, critic, and…Kiwao Nomura (野村 喜和夫, Nomura Kiwao; born 20 October 1951 in Saitama Prefecture) is a Japanese poet, writer, critic, and lecturer. He is considered one of the driving forces behind contemporary Japanese poetry.
Yukijirō Hotaru (螢雪次朗, Hotaru Yukijirō) is a Japanese actor. He is best known for the role of Gonza Kurahashi in the…Yukijirō Hotaru (螢雪次朗, Hotaru Yukijirō) is a Japanese actor. He is best known for the role of Gonza Kurahashi in the Garo television franchise. He has played Tsutomu Osako, a recurring role in the Heisei Gamera trilogy, along with the 2003 independent film GAMERA 4-TRUTH (jp), which was permitted by Tokuma Shoten under the condition to be free of charge. His decision to play the character for the Gamera films was prompted by Yukitarō Hotaru's involvement in the 1967 film Gamera vs. Gyaos.
Katsuyuki Kizawa (Kizawa Katsuyuki; born August 27, 1951) is a Japanese jurist who served as an associate Justice of…Katsuyuki Kizawa (Kizawa Katsuyuki; born August 27, 1951) is a Japanese jurist who served as an associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Japan from 2016 to 2021.
Hiroshi Oguchi (大口 広司, Ōguchi Hiroshi; sometimes spelled as Ohguchi) was born in Kawaguchi, Japan, on November 28…Hiroshi Oguchi (大口 広司, Ōguchi Hiroshi; sometimes spelled as Ohguchi) was born in Kawaguchi, Japan, on November 28, 1950. He died on January 25, 2009, in Tokyo, Japan, of cancer. A Tokyo-based conceptual artist, musician and scene maker, Hiroshi Oguchi had for decades been influential in the changing attitudes of Japan's youth. As a drummer, he was in the bands The Tempters, Pyg, and Vodka Collins, recording many albums. He also owned and ran his own fashion company, Practice of Silence. Oguchi was also an actor in a number of films, including Strange Circus (2006), Freesia :Icy Tears (2006),The Sinking Of Japan (2006) and Silk (2007). He was married to the popular actress Kimie Shingyoji; they had one son, Gento Oguchi, who is a musician and artist.
Masami Kuwashima (桑島 正美; born 14 September 1950) is a former racing driver from Japan. Kuwashima was initially supposed…Masami Kuwashima (桑島 正美; born 14 September 1950) is a former racing driver from Japan. Kuwashima was initially supposed to drive a Brabham BT44 in the 1976 Japanese Grand Prix with the RAM team, but the car was unavailable after it had been impounded at the German Grand Prix in August. Kuwashima subsequently found a seat for the race with the then-struggling Wolf–Williams Racing team, driving a Wolf–Williams FW05. Kuwashima took part in the first two qualifying sessions for the race, and posted a time of 1:17.90 in the first session on the Friday morning, which was 23rd fastest of the 26 entrants, ahead of Hans-Joachim Stuck, Tony Trimmer and Harald Ertl. In the afternoon session, he was unable to improve, posting a time of 1:19.27. Trimmer and Masahiro Hasemi did not participate in this second session, so Kuwashima placed 24th, the slowest runner in the session. Stuck and Ertl improved their times, so overall, Kuwashima was lying 25th of the 26 entrants at the end of Friday's running, ahead only of Trimmer. This caused Kuwashima's sponsors to withdraw their financing of the Williams deal, and Frank Williams promptly replaced him with Austrian Hans Binder for the third qualifying session and the race itself. Binder had previously driven for Ensign at the Austrian Grand Prix that year. In the third qualifying session, Binder posted a time of 1:17.36, just over half a second faster than Kuwashima, but still placed 25th overall. With only 24 entrants due to start the race, Williams had to ask permission from the other teams for Binder to take part, which he received, although the car retired from the race on lap 49 with a wheel bearing failure. Kuwashima was not to have another chance in Formula One, and he returned to the Japanese Formula 2000 and Formula Two series where he spent the rest of his career. Continuing to struggle for sponsorship, he ended his single-seater career in 1979. He later worked as a team director in the Japanese GT Championship in the early 2000s, and worked as a stunt driver for films and television.
Hiroaki Shukuzawa (宿澤広朗, Shukuzawa Hiroaki; September 1, 1950 – June 17, 2006) was a Japanese rugby union player and…Hiroaki Shukuzawa (宿澤広朗, Shukuzawa Hiroaki; September 1, 1950 – June 17, 2006) was a Japanese rugby union player and coach, who coached the Japan national rugby union team between 1989 and 1991. As a player, he was capped three times by Japan as a scrum-half, and he also advised the Japan Rugby Football Union. He also held important posts as a banker. Shukuzawa died of a heart attack on the way back from a mountain climbing expedition in Gunma prefecture. More than four thousand people, including Seiji Hirao and Katsuyuki Kiyomiya attended the overnight wake on June 22, 2006, at Honganji temple in Tsukiji, Tokyo.
Yukiko Kada (嘉田 由紀子, Kada Yukiko; born May 18, 1950) is a Japanese politician and member of the National Diet of Japan…Yukiko Kada (嘉田 由紀子, Kada Yukiko; born May 18, 1950) is a Japanese politician and member of the National Diet of Japan, serving as member of the House of Councillors from Shiga Prefecture since 2019. She was the governor of Shiga for two terms from 2006 to 2014.
Kaoru Kitamura (北村 薫, Kitamura Kaoru) (born December 28, 1949) is the pen name of Kazuo Miyamoto (宮本 和男, Miyamoto…Kaoru Kitamura (北村 薫, Kitamura Kaoru) (born December 28, 1949) is the pen name of Kazuo Miyamoto (宮本 和男, Miyamoto Kazuo), a popular contemporary Japanese writer, mainly of short stories.
Mineko Ueda (上田三根子, Ueda Mineko; born 1949) is a Japanese illustrator. She is best known for her commercial…Mineko Ueda (上田三根子, Ueda Mineko; born 1949) is a Japanese illustrator. She is best known for her commercial illustrations, particularly the mascots for the Lion Corporation's Kirei Kirei brand of hand soap, and as the character designer for the Boku no Natsuyasumi series of video games.
Masachika Ichimura (市村 正親, Ichimura Masachika; born January 28, 1949) is a Japanese actor. He was born in Kawagoe…Masachika Ichimura (市村 正親, Ichimura Masachika; born January 28, 1949) is a Japanese actor. He was born in Kawagoe, Saitama and studied at the Theater Art College in Tokyo after graduating high school. He has also done voice acting work, with some of his roles being Mewtwo from the Pokémon franchise and Jack Skellington in the Japanese dub of The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Fumihiro Himori (日森 文尋 Himori Fumihiro; December 3, 1948 – June 9, 2022) was a Japanese politician and member of the…Fumihiro Himori (日森 文尋 Himori Fumihiro; December 3, 1948 – June 9, 2022) was a Japanese politician and member of the House of Representatives for the Social Democratic Party.
Taimei Yamaguchi (山口 泰明, Yamaguchi Taimei; born 10 November 1948) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal…Taimei Yamaguchi (山口 泰明, Yamaguchi Taimei; born 10 November 1948) is a former Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, who served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Hiki District, Saitama and graduate of Nihon University, he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1996.
Sukehiro Tomita (Japanese: 富田 祐弘, Hepburn: Tomita Sukehiro; born April 14, 1948) is a Japanese anime screenwriter. He…Sukehiro Tomita (Japanese: 富田 祐弘, Hepburn: Tomita Sukehiro; born April 14, 1948) is a Japanese anime screenwriter. He is known for his work on Sailor Moon, Wedding Peach, Phantom Thief Jeanne, Digimon Frontier, Gall Force and Macross II. At the 2024 Tokyo Anime Award Festival, Tomita won the Lifetime Achievement Award in the scriptwriter category.
Hatsuo Royama (盧山 初雄, Royama Hatsuo; March 31, 1948 – August 3, 2026) also known by his Korean name of Noh Cho Woong…Hatsuo Royama (盧山 初雄, Royama Hatsuo; March 31, 1948 – August 3, 2026) also known by his Korean name of Noh Cho Woong (Korean: 노초웅; Hanja: 盧初雄) was a master of Kyokushin Karate, was Kancho (Director) and then Kaicho (Honorary Director) of the Kyokushin-kan International Organization Honbu, one faction of the International Karate Organization (IKO) founded by Mas Oyama (1923–1994) until April 2022.
Noriaki "Nori" Bunasawa (樗沢憲昭, Bunasawa Noriaki; born November 3, 1947) is a Japanese and American judoka, a former USA…Noriaki "Nori" Bunasawa (樗沢憲昭, Bunasawa Noriaki; born November 3, 1947) is a Japanese and American judoka, a former USA judo coach at the 1972 Olympic games in Munich and at the 1975 World Judo Championships in Vienna. He is also a judo and jujutsu researcher, Japanese martial arts historian, actor, and co-author of The Toughest Man Who Ever Lived, a novel based on the life of Mitsuyo Maeda. He founded the Judo Journal newspaper which became Judo Jiujitsu Pro-fighting Journal. He was also the press chief for the IJF at the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta. He is also the founder of Jūkkendo (柔拳道), a martial arts system based on the prize fighting methods of Mitsuyo Maeda.
Nobuo Kawakami (川上 信夫, Kawakami Nobuo; born October 4, 1947) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan…Nobuo Kawakami (川上 信夫, Kawakami Nobuo; born October 4, 1947) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
Yoshiji Soeno (添野 義二, Soeno Yoshiji; born September 29, 1947) is a Japanese karateka and a retired professional…Yoshiji Soeno (添野 義二, Soeno Yoshiji; born September 29, 1947) is a Japanese karateka and a retired professional welterweight kickboxer. Soeno was a renowned practitioner of Kyokushin-kaikan style of karate, before branching out and founding his own style of Shidōkan Karate. Soeno is currently the director of The World Karate Association Shidokan, headquartered at Shizuoka-ken, Japan.
Rikiya Yasuoka (安岡力也, Yasuoka Rikiya; 19 July 1947 – 8 April 2012) was a Japanese actor and singer of mixed Italian and…Rikiya Yasuoka (安岡力也, Yasuoka Rikiya; 19 July 1947 – 8 April 2012) was a Japanese actor and singer of mixed Italian and Japanese descent.
Takeo Takahashi (高橋 武夫, Takahashi Takeo; born May 13, 1947) (former name; Takeo Kimura, 木村 武夫) is a former Japanese…Takeo Takahashi (高橋 武夫, Takahashi Takeo; born May 13, 1947) (former name; Takeo Kimura, 木村 武夫) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He played for Japan national team.
Daisuke Ban (伴 大介, Ban Daisuke), born Kiyonori Saito (斎藤 清憲, Saitō Kiyonori), is a Japanese actor. He was born on May…Daisuke Ban (伴 大介, Ban Daisuke), born Kiyonori Saito (斎藤 清憲, Saitō Kiyonori), is a Japanese actor. He was born on May 5, 1947, in Saitama prefecture, north of Tokyo. He is best known for portraying several heroic roles in tokusatsu, including Jiro in Android Kikaider and Goro Watari in Inazuman.
Shozo Saijo (西城 正三, Saijō Shōzō; born January 28, 1947) is a Japanese former professional boxer from Saitama. He is a…Shozo Saijo (西城 正三, Saijō Shōzō; born January 28, 1947) is a Japanese former professional boxer from Saitama. He is a former WBA featherweight champion.
Masakatsu Shibasaki (柴崎 正勝, Shibasaki Masakatsu; born 25 January 1947) is a Japanese chemist. In 1974 he earned his…Masakatsu Shibasaki (柴崎 正勝, Shibasaki Masakatsu; born 25 January 1947) is a Japanese chemist. In 1974 he earned his doctorate in chemistry, in the group of Shun’ichi Yamada. He did a post doc with Elias J. Corey at Harvard. He returned to Japan and became a professor in 1977 at Teikyō University and moved to Hokkaidō University in 1986. 1983–1986 Shibasaki was a research group leader at the Sagami chemical research center. From 1991 until 2010 he served as professor at Tokyo University. Since 2010 he is representative director of Microbial Chemistry Research Foundation (Chemistry), Tokyo. He is perhaps best known for developing a range of binol based heterobimetallic catalysts, which now bear his name.
Hiroyuki Yamazaki (山崎 裕之, Yamazaki Hiroyuki; born December 22, 1946) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball…Hiroyuki Yamazaki (山崎 裕之, Yamazaki Hiroyuki; born December 22, 1946) is a Japanese former Nippon Professional Baseball second baseman and shortstop. He played for the Tokyo/Lotte Orions from 1965 until 1978 and the Seibu Lions from 1979 until his retirement in 1984. Over his career, he won five Best Nine Awards and three Golden Glove Awards. He led the NPB in batting average twice and was an All-Star eleven times. With 2081 hits, he is a member of the Meikyukai and is ranked 37th in terms of NPB players by total career hits.
Hiroshi Takeyama (Yō Takeyama (竹山 洋, Takeyama Yō); July 28, 1946 – April 12, 2023) was a Japanese screenwriter. Besides…Hiroshi Takeyama (Yō Takeyama (竹山 洋, Takeyama Yō); July 28, 1946 – April 12, 2023) was a Japanese screenwriter. Besides his work for television, he is best known for his screenplays for Hotaru (2001) and Shijushichinin no shikaku, Kon Ichikawa's 1994 version of the Forty-seven rōnin story. Both of these were nominated but did not win the Award of the Japanese Academy for "Best Screenplay".
Midori Nakano (中野 翠, Nakano Midori; b. Urawa, Saitama, 21 July 1946) is a Japanese columnist and essayist who has…Midori Nakano (中野 翠, Nakano Midori; b. Urawa, Saitama, 21 July 1946) is a Japanese columnist and essayist who has written extensively in Sunday Mainichi magazine. She is a graduate of Waseda University.
Mitsuo Hagita (萩田光雄, Hagita Mitsuo), born June 16, 1946, in Shizuoka, Japan, is a Japanese arranger, composer and…Mitsuo Hagita (萩田光雄, Hagita Mitsuo), born June 16, 1946, in Shizuoka, Japan, is a Japanese arranger, composer and musical producer.
Tochifuji Katsutake (born Haruo Kogure; June 8, 1946 – April 28, 2003) was a sumo wrestler from Kumagaya, Saitama…Tochifuji Katsutake (born Haruo Kogure; June 8, 1946 – April 28, 2003) was a sumo wrestler from Kumagaya, Saitama, Japan. He made his professional debut in May 1961, and reached the top division in September 1968. Upon retirement from active competition he became an elder in the Japan Sumo Association under the name Yamawake. He coached at Kasugano-beya until 1990, when he joined Tamanoi-oyakata, who branched out to form Tamanoi-beya. He died on April 28, 2003, due to a myocardial infarction
Hisako "Chako" Higuchi (Japanese: 樋口久子, born 13 October 1945 in Kawagoe, Saitama) is a Japanese professional golfer.…Hisako "Chako" Higuchi (Japanese: 樋口久子, born 13 October 1945 in Kawagoe, Saitama) is a Japanese professional golfer. Higuchi studied golf from Torakichi Nakamura, a member of Japan's winning team at the 1957 World Cup of Golf. She turned pro in 1967 and went on to win 69 titles on the LPGA of Japan Tour. Higuchi won the LPGA Championship on 12 June 1977, making her the first Asian-born player to win a major championship for either men or women. (No Asian-born player would win a men's major until Yang Yong-eun won the 2009 PGA Championship.) She was 31 when she won her LPGA Championship. Alongside Ayako Okamoto, she dominated the 1970s and 1980s in Japanese women's golf. Higuchi also won the Colgate European Open on the LPGA Tour and the Wills Australian Ladies Open on the ALPG Tour. Higuchi became president of the LPGA of Japan Tour in 1996. In 2003, she became the first Japanese golfer to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Toshio Kayama (加山 俊夫, Kayama Toshio; born 18 February 1945) is a Japanese politician and the former mayor of Sagamihara…Toshio Kayama (加山 俊夫, Kayama Toshio; born 18 February 1945) is a Japanese politician and the former mayor of Sagamihara a designated city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. He was first elected in 2007. He was reelected in 2011 and 2015 but lost his bid for a fourth term in 2019 to Kentaro Motomura.
Yoko Shinozaki (篠崎 洋子, Shinozaki Yōko; born January 29, 1945) is a Japanese volleyball player and Olympic champion. She…Yoko Shinozaki (篠崎 洋子, Shinozaki Yōko; born January 29, 1945) is a Japanese volleyball player and Olympic champion. She was a major player to help Japanese women's national volleyball, team to dominate the World in 1962-67 by winning 1962 FIVB Women's World Championship, 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games and 1967 FIVB Women's World Championship in row.
Masaru Nashimoto (梨元 勝, Nashimoto Masaru; 1 December 1944 – 21 August 2010) was a Japanese reporter who specialized in…Masaru Nashimoto (梨元 勝, Nashimoto Masaru; 1 December 1944 – 21 August 2010) was a Japanese reporter who specialized in covering show-business gossip and scandals. He was born in Nakano, Tokyo.
Hiroshi Kume (久米 宏, Kume Hiroshi; 14 July 1944 – 1 January 2026) was a Japanese television and radio presenter…Hiroshi Kume (久米 宏, Kume Hiroshi; 14 July 1944 – 1 January 2026) was a Japanese television and radio presenter, journalist, author, and goodwill ambassador for Germany. He was the host of the TBS radio talk show Kume Hiroshi Radio Nandesukedo. From 1978 to 1985, he served as host of pop music show The Best Ten. From October 1985 to March 2004, he was the anchor for TV Asahi's news program News Station.
Makoto Matsubara (松原 誠, Matsubara Makoto; born January 13, 1944 in the Saitama Prefecture, Iruma, Japan) is a Japanese…Makoto Matsubara (松原 誠, Matsubara Makoto; born January 13, 1944 in the Saitama Prefecture, Iruma, Japan) is a Japanese former professional baseball first baseman and third baseman in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He played for the Taiyo Whales / Yokohama Taiyo Whales from 1962 to 1980 and the Yomiuri Giants in 1981.
Kensei Hasegawa (長谷川 憲正, Hasegawa Kensei; born January 1, 1943) is a Japanese politician of the People's New Party, a…Kensei Hasegawa (長谷川 憲正, Hasegawa Kensei; born January 1, 1943) is a Japanese politician of the People's New Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Kumagaya, Saitama and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he worked at the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications from 1967 to 2003. He was elected for the first time in 2004.
Toshio Fujii (Japanese: 藤井俊男 Fujii Toshio; 28 September 1942 – 2 January 2026) was a Japanese politician. A member of…Toshio Fujii (Japanese: 藤井俊男 Fujii Toshio; 28 September 1942 – 2 January 2026) was a Japanese politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served in the House of Councillors from 1998 to 2004. Fujii died of heart failure in Kawaguchi, on 2 January 2026, at the age of 83.
Nobuo Sekine (関根 伸夫, Sekine Nobuo; September 19, 1942 – May 13, 2019) was a Japanese sculptor who resided in both…Nobuo Sekine (関根 伸夫, Sekine Nobuo; September 19, 1942 – May 13, 2019) was a Japanese sculptor who resided in both Tokyo, Japan, and Los Angeles, California. A graduate of Tama Art University, he was one of the key members of Mono-ha, a group of artists who became prominent in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The Mono-ha artists explored the encounter between natural and industrial materials, arranging them or interacting with them in mostly unaltered, ephemeral states. Sekine’s signature materials included earth, water, stone, oilclay, sponge, steel plates, among others. His Phase—Mother Earth, consisting of a hole dug into the ground, 2.7 meters deep and 2.2 meters in diameter, with the excavated earth compacted into a cylinder of exactly the same dimensions, is considered to have initiated the Mono-ha movement. Later credited as the "big bang" of the movement, the work not only attracted the attention of fellow Tama students but also Lee Ufan, who was senior to Sekine and in search of a theoretical framework for new art. This work led to an intense intellectual exchange between Sekine and Lee, involving other Tama students, that served as a foundational theory of Mono-ha, that combined Sekine’s principle of “not making” (tsukuranai koto) and Lee’s idea of “the world as-it-is” (arugamama no sekai), setting a stage for themselves and their peers to embark on a full-fledged exploration of mono (things), which became the name for their movement. Sekine’s own work rapidly progressed from Phase—Mother Earth to Phase-Sponge (1968) and Phase of Nothingness - Oil Clay (1969), with all of these works receiving top awards at major competitions. By 1970, Sekine established himself as a young but rising figure of contemporary art, being invited, along with Shusaku Arakawa, to exhibit in the Japanese pavilion at the Venice Biennale in 1970, by the critic Yoshiaki Tōno. While Arakawa filled the pavilion’s interior, Sekine erected a large-scale outdoor sculpture, Phase of Nothingness. Despite these attentions, the artist departed the Mono-ha practice and established Kankyō Bijutsu Kenkyūjo (Environment Art Studio) in 1973 to focus primarily on public sculpture.
Motoaki Inukai (犬飼 基昭, Inukai Motoaki; born 5 July 1942 in Saitama, Saitama Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese former…Motoaki Inukai (犬飼 基昭, Inukai Motoaki; born 5 July 1942 in Saitama, Saitama Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese former association football player. He played for Mitsubishi Motors. He was the eleventh President of Japan Football Association from 2008 to 2010.